In Fall River, Massachusetts, local businesses grapple with the effects of tariffs implemented during the Trump administration, as they seek to navigate an uncertain economic landscape. The Teixeira family deeply ingrained into their business model have remained flexible in organizing their manufacturing processes throughout the years. At the same time, other entrepreneurs have seen their costs rise because of their dependence on imported materials. These changes raise questions about the future of American manufacturing and the impact of trade policies on local economies.
Tom Teixeira, a retired transit operator and another long-time Trump supporter, isn’t certain great improvements will come, but is willing to wait. “It’s not going to be a quick fix,” he looks back. He doesn’t shy away from recognizing the difficult realities that many legacy local businesses must contend with as economic winds change. His family had a long business pedigree in Fall River. While in the last few decades that’s been a major transition.
Frank Teixeira and his daughter Sue are co-owners of Accurate Services. This company originally launched as a production business, but today serves exclusively as a distribution and storage business. In 1990, the Teixeira family made the astute business move to close almost all of their manufacturing. More importantly, they pivoted at lightning speed to their new market realities. Lately, they have seen an increase in interest from companies looking for their US-based sewing services. This trend foreshadows a potentially more robust return of domestic manufacturing.
While this is certainly good news, Frank Teixeira, a longtime trade attorney and policy advocate, shared his frustration with the current tariff climate. He states, “We’ve done all of the things we were supposed to do in order to invest in the industrial base of the United States when no one else was willing to do it and it’s just really frustrating that now we’re being penalised.” His sentiment expresses a broader concern behind the minds of local business owners. They worry that tariffs threaten their very existence.
No one has felt the direct financial impact of tariffs on his business more than George Matouk, owner of Matouk. Matouk is widely recognized for producing luxury sheet sets, coverlets, and towels. Matouk is extremely dependent on imported cloth and materials. He mentions that tariffs have at least doubled his operational costs by more than $100,000 per month. He tells me that the materials get slapped with all the same tariffs as everything else. This scenario reduces those benefits and shows the difficulty businesses face when overly dependent on imported products.
Vanson Leathers owner Mike van der Sleesen has had to increase his costs by 15% due to tariffs. His new company, Aggressor Gear, focuses specifically on motorcycle jackets. He appreciates that companies stand to profit from domestic production incentives. Ironically enough, he’s the loudest and clearest voice against the tariffs, which hurt businesses such as his. “Tariffs are a bad policy,” he cautions, “and eventually they are going to come home to haunt us.”
Small business OWNER’S Manhattan While Accurate Services has found new opportunities in sewing services, others like Matouk and Vanson Leathers face rising costs that could threaten their profitability. Van der Sleesen emphasizes the uneven nature of trade policies: “It’s been a very uneven and unfair trade path for a company like Vanson.”
As Tom Teixeira watches the transformation of his community unfold, he can’t help but be cautiously hopeful. Through all this he now claims, “I haven’t seen any big jumps in prices this year.” His experience is a sharp contrast to some of his peers’ experiences. He’s confident that local businesses have the ingenuity and resources to combat the challenges brought on by continued trade disputes. His outlook exudes a deep, penetrating optimism.